The MacLomain Series: Later Years - a Scottish Time Travel Romance Boxed Set

by Sky Purington

  “Though I’m not sure I agree with the idea right now, Grant and Torra want Rònan to stay close to you so he will.” Megan gestured at Tosha. “Keep brushing the horse.”

  When Erin glanced at Rònan, Megan shook her head sharply. “Don’t look at him.”

  With a heavy sigh, she concentrated on grooming Tosha while Megan continued talking.

  “As I mentioned before, the first thing you need to do as a shifter is learn to repress your anger,” Megan said. “Dragons respond first and foremost to it. So if your human half doesn’t deal with it fast, the dragon will seize control.” She gestured at Rònan. “That’s likely why he’s usually such a happy go lucky guy. It’s his defense mechanism against the dragon taking over.”

  “Rònan’s happy go lucky?” Erin couldn’t help but snort. “Hard to believe.”

  But she remembered how he was in New Hampshire and it was pretty close to that initially. Rònan offered no comeback but remained silent as he leaned against the stall door.

  “I’m not concerned about what you believe about Rònan,” Megan said. “I’m concerned about you learning to get your anger under control.”

  Erin shrugged. “To the best of my knowledge I’ve always been good at that.”

  She had made sure she was at a young age.

  “Maybe so. But now that your dragon is awakening you’ll have to learn to control it a whole lot better,” Megan said. “When anger flares, you need to figure out what brings you away from it and focus on that.” She nodded at Tosha. “Horses calm you so maybe focusing on them when you get upset would be a good idea.”

  She didn’t like the idea of depending on a singular thought process to keep her from turning into a monster. “I wasn’t thinking about horses earlier and still came out of it.”

  “Because I was there. Because I talked you through it,” Megan reminded. “Next time there’s a good chance I won’t be. Next time it might just be you and Rònan, and like you, he’s trying to learn to control new emotions.”

  When thoughts of him putting her to sleep the night before arose, Erin ground her jaw. Despite her reservations, she did what Megan suggested and focused on the horse. She kept brushing and soaked up the soothing feeling it leant her. Not only did it assuage her anger but helped her cope with the mind-blowing reality she was being forced to accept. That she was half dragon. Half beast. So she set to giving the horse a good brush down and found a small sense of peace.

  “Other odd stuff might happen to you as your dragon awakens,” Megan continued. “I suspect you already had some unusual experiences before you arrived here. Time lapses or sometimes seeing things that weren’t there even though you swore they were.”

  Erin frowned as she recalled the oddities back in the cave. “Could you clarify?”

  “Does it really need clarifying?” Megan gave her a knowing look. “Did you not see Rònan’s mother in Scotland even though she wasn’t there?”

  Rònan sounded surprised when he spoke softly. “’Twas my Ma you were talking to when I thought you spoke to a rock, aye?”

  Erin nodded and sighed. “Well, I guess it’s good to know I’m not completely nuts.”

  “No, you’re not.” Megan’s lip curled up. “A fellow shifter reached out to you. One that clearly likes you.”

  “How could she like me when she only just met me,” Erin murmured.

  “Torra MacLeod is not only a powerful wizard and shifter but a better judge of character than most,” the Viking King provided. “Some say she understands a person’s soul even before she’s laid eyes on them.”

  Erin wasn’t sure what to make of that considering Torra was Rònan’s mother but supposed it wasn’t something to dwell on. So she remained focused on grooming Tosha and the continued peace it gave her. Yet for some reason, as she crouched and worked at the horse’s legs, memories started to flicker through her mind of her father. How he casually leaned against the stall and grinned. How she grinned back.

  They had been best friends.

  She told him to stop flicking his lighter because he was too close to the hay. An odd habit he’d picked up after he quit smoking. She figured he just needed to keep busy with something.

  He shrugged and nodded at the horse she was caring for. “All’s well, Angel. Just take care of your girl.”

  Erin smiled as she kept brushing. “Sure thing, Dad.”

  Yet she worried about her father. About what would happen next. Would they make ends meet? Would they keep their house? Would everything be okay?

  Or would she somehow manage to destroy everything?

  “I think mayhap Tosha’s tail is well brushed.”

  Erin blinked several times and snapped out of wherever she had gone. Rònan stood across from her as she held Tosha’s tail. There was no sign of Megan or Naðr.

  “Back away,” she said, on guard.

  Rònan took a few steps back and nodded. “I’m backing away.”

  “Good.” She put a hand on the horse to ground herself, to keep safe. “Now get out of here.”

  “Nay,” he murmured and sat on a stool in the corner.

  “Why are they leaving us alone after what happened?” Though Erin continued to run the brush over Tosha, she eyed Rònan. “Seems like a bad move.”

  “Aye,” he agreed. “But here I sit.”

  And he was sitting. Not pressuring or intimidating her with his height like he tried to do earlier. She supposed that was a good start. Though she said nothing while grooming Tosha, she figured it might not be a bad idea to try communicating with him. Especially if everyone was determined he stay with her.

  “So what happened to you back there because it wasn’t good,” she said.

  “Nay, it wasnae. I lost control.” Though he spoke to her, he focused on the horse. “I apologize.”

  “You should,” she said but realized she wasn’t all that mad at him anymore. After seeing the Viking shifters’ reaction to her in the main lodge, a part of her understood that he had been protecting her the night before. “And while it’s not the easiest thing to say, thank you for making sure I rested.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “Just don’t do it again.”

  Rònan’s eyes stayed on the horse. “As long as you dinnae give me a reason to, you have my word I willnae.”

  “And what exactly do you consider a reason to?”

  He looked anywhere but at her. “As long as you dinnae foolishly try to put yourself in harm’s way.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, I know how to fight,” she shot back.

  “And if you havenae noticed, dragon-shifters can anticipate your every move,” he said softly. “Or at least, I can.”

  She had noticed as much. “And why is that again?”

  “I dinnae know precisely but ‘tis partly because the telepathy betwixt us seems to be growing.” He again focused on the horse. “’Tis odd considering we haven’t lain together. I can only assume ‘tis because of the dragon connection.”

  “What’s us sleeping together got to do with telepathy?” She shook her head, still trying to swallow the fact they might be communicating through their minds. But then it seemed to be happening with Tosha, so it was certainly possible. “And why aren’t you looking at me when you speak to me?”

  “Och, lass,” Rònan muttered. “’Tis not for lack of wanting.” He sighed. “Like you, I’m trying to tame my inner dragon. Outside of my Ma, I haven’t been around another such as you and trust me when I say, I’m suffering a strong reaction. One I need to get under control soon if I’m to protect you, the wee Bruce and find Jackie.”

  Eyes firmly glued on Tosha, he continued. “As to the strong mental connection we seem to be forming, it typically only happens after a MacLomain wizard lies with the Broun lass who is his true love.” He frowned. “Did Nicole not mention such to you?”

  “Right, because you’ve got MacLomain blood too,” she murmured. “No, Nicole never mentioned the sex thing.”

  “Well, if you’ve any questions, dinnae hesit
ate to ask,” he said softly. “I’ll help any way I can.”

  It sounded like he meant it.

  “So you’re set to protect me but can’t even look at me,” she said, setting aside the brush.

  “I think ‘tis best for now until I learn to control,” he cleared his throat, “my emotions.” His jaw clenched. “According to Naðr, there will be a period of difficulty as your dragon surfaces.”

  “Such as?”

  “Scents and your reactions to them...my reaction to them,” he said, brogue thickening as he struggled with his explanation. “All male shifters will likely feel the...changes in your body.”

  Oh, hell. “Why does this sound like some sort of supernatural puberty?”

  Rònan chuckled, and she got the sense he was grateful to find some humor in this crazy situation. “’‘Twill likely be such for us both but rest assured, I mean to keep my hands off you.”

  “Good goal,” she murmured, leaning against the stall. Yet there was a dash of untruthfulness to her response. A wave of heat flared deep within as she eyed the way the black fur cloak hugged his broad shoulders. Then the length of his long, muscular body. Visuals of what that body might look like arose, and she licked her lips.

  Rònan inhaled sharply, ground his jaw and strode out of the stall without glancing at her. “Please come outside so that we might continue talking with more people around.”

  When she hesitated, he called out, “Please, Erin. I mean to be your friend and ‘tis hard to focus when we’re alone.”

  “What about the other dragon shifters?” she replied. “Where are they?”

  “I’d imagine getting a good tongue-lashing from Megan still,” he replied. “As to the ones who didnae come into our lodge, Naðr spoke with them last night.”

  “So I’ve got the whole place on high-alert, eh?” she said as she shouldered into her fur cloak and followed.

  “Aye,” he said, but there was a smile in his voice as they exited.

  While it wasn’t the best day for a stroll considering the inclement weather, plenty of people were about. History always told that Vikings were tough sons of bitches and it seemed to hold true as far as she could tell. Erin put on her hood and eyed Rònan as they walked. “Aren’t you gonna put on your hood?”

  “Nay.” He shook his head, eyes dead ahead. “The snow feels good. ‘Tis best to keep my skin cool right now.”

  “And why is that?” she said. “Better yet, why’d you scoot out of the stables so fast?”

  “Dragons can sense many things that humans cannae,” Rònan explained. “Including arousal. We can smell such from a lass.” His voice thickened. “Apparently the scent of a female dragon is much stronger.”

  So he smelled that she was getting turned on back there? Well, that was one to grow on.

  “Does it work the other way around?” she asked. “Will I be able to tell when you or another shifter is aroused?”

  Rònan shrugged. “I dinnae know. As I’m sure you ken, ‘twas not something I ever felt the need to ask my Ma.”

  “Understandable.” She repressed a chuckle. “It’s pretty easy to tell when you guys get turned on anyways. I don’t think I need to smell it. But you gotta wonder what a guy smells like when he’s revved up.”

  As if desperate to redirect the conversation, he said, “So I take it Nicole didnae tell you how she learned she was pregnant?”

  “I’m afraid not.” Her eyes widened a little as the truth dawned. “From you?”

  “Aye.” A genuine smile lit his face, and she yanked her eyes away. He was already too damn fine without smiling. All those straight white teeth against his tan skin.

  “I not only smelled the wee bairn but heard its heartbeat,” he continued. “’Twas a truly touching moment.”

  “Sounds it.” Despite herself, Erin was warmed by the affection in his voice. By how much he seemed to care. “You and Nicole get along well, huh?”

  “Verra. Not to mention she saved me.” Rònan shrugged. “I would have taken her as my own if there wasnae so much love betwixt her and Niall.”

  Again, she had to appreciate his honesty. “I heard a little bit about what happened to you in that Celtic Otherworld place.” Though she typically wasn’t compassionate beyond what she felt for horses, she was sort of warming to him. “Sorry about all that, by the way. How are you doing?”

  “Honestly, I haven’t had much time to ponder it since traveling to the future,” he said. She sensed he wanted to glance at her but didn’t. “And for that I’m grateful. While ‘tis safe to say us meeting was mildly difficult, I am truly grateful for the distraction.”

  “Mildly difficult,” she murmured, suppressing a grin. “Yeah, I guess you could call it that.”

  “Aye,” he said softly. “But mayhap things will get better betwixt us now?”

  “We’ll see,” she said just as softly. It occurred to her she wasn’t nearly as wary of him as she had been. Rather, she felt a level of comfort as they walked through the village toward the ocean. The snow had lessened enough that she could make out the rows upon rows of piers. Bjorn was heading their way, but when he saw her, he swiftly turned and headed in the opposite direction.

  Rònan chuckled. “I think the Viking dragons will be giving you a wide berth until they’ve learned to control themselves.”

  “Probably a good thing.” Her eyes flickered to Rònan as she started to realize how difficult this must be for him. “You know I can hang with Megan and the Viking King to give you a break while you learn how to deal with...me. That might be the best way for you and me to get where we need to be.”

  Not to mention, she was way too aware of him despite all the heavy clothing. His height. How small she felt beside him. The way puffs of moisture escaped those sexy lips of his. Just looking at him invoked an unfamiliar level of desire.

  “Nay, I must do what Grant asked of me.” Rònan inhaled deeply, and she swore he shuddered. His brogue thickened yet again. “And though I’m flattered, lass, ye might want to do what Megan suggested about fighting back anger when ye feel aroused. Mayhap focus on yer horse.” His voice grew more guttural. “Because yer scent calls to me something fierce and ‘tis hard.”

  Her eyes fell to the way he held his cloak tightly around him. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was walking a little bow legged. “I take it you’ve got an erection then?”

  “Aye,” he growled. “One that isnae easy to control even with magic.”

  That had to suck. So she tried to make light of it. “Refer again to supernatural puberty... better yet dragon puberty.”

  Rònan snorted, but she managed to wrangle a chuckle from him. “Aye, lass.”

  She realized that once she wasn’t on the defense with him, Rònan wasn’t all that difficult to get along with. Maybe he did have a happy go lucky nature lurking under there somewhere. Or maybe her perception of him from the get-go was simply based on her not trusting men, to begin with.

  “We should stop here,” he said at the gates of the fortress. “’Twill be too cold on the shore and ‘tis just a lull in the storm right now.”

  She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, surprised to sense a change of some kind.

  “The wind will soon shift from east to southeast,” she whispered and ran her tongue over her teeth. “It’ll bring a sharp temperature drop and far more moisture.”

  “Aye,” he said.

  Her eyes shot open, and though she looked at him, he gazed at the sea. “How did I know that?”

  “Dragons are creatures who rely on instincts above all else,” he said. “’Tis in our nature to be more aware of weather and seasonal patterns.”

  Though for a few minutes she had been easing into the possibility of accepting what she’d become, a flash of fear rose up and she whispered, “I can’t be a monster. I can’t be my worst nightmare.”

  “You are no monster, lass.” Rònan’s voice was so soft it was nearly lost on the wind. “You are magnificent.”

  A chill raced thr
ough her that had nothing to do with the cold temperature. What she couldn’t figure out was whether it was his spoken words that touched her or the ones he whispered through her mind.

  “And though you fear you’ve become your worst nightmare, you have not. What you are is the furthest thing from it.”

  Erin tried to respond, but the words died on her lips. Not because her voice didn’t work but because she simply had no idea what to say. Despite her close friends, kindness was not something she trusted. People always had an angle. And though she would be tempted to say Rònan’s was to get her into bed, he seemed determined to do the opposite.

  “Come, lass, we should get back to where ‘tis warm,” he said and started back the way they came.

  “I don’t mind the cold,” she said. “It feels pretty good right now. Most of the time, actually.”

  “’Tis because you’re half dragon.” He turned back when she stopped, eyes still averted. “We get overheated quickly. Whilst you might think you can withstand the current temperatures, your human skin cannot. However, when in the form of a dragon we can withstand sub-zero temperatures for a verra long time.”

  Erin swallowed and shook her head in denial. “I know you’re trying to educate me but...”

  “But,” he said when she trailed off. “I know ‘tis not easy, lass, but ‘twould be in your best interest to learn all you can from me. And though I haven’t known you long, you strike me the sort that prefers knowledge to a general sense of denial.”

  No words were truer.

  Still, it wasn’t easy digesting all of this.

  “Please.” He gestured back toward the village. “We should seek shelter.”

  Erin sighed, nodded and joined him. “It’s weird that you can’t look at me.”

  “’Tis for the best,” he assured. “Until I manage to control myself.”

  She almost argued the point. Mainly because she wanted those emerald eyes on her. Just once. To see if he could do it. To see what his response would be. To see what hers would be. But she respected what he was trying to do. A lot.

  “Hey, there you guys are,” Nicole said, heading in their direction with a scowling Niall hot on her heels. Her eyes met Erin’s. “How are you doing? Better?”